Were the teachings of Jesus really that great?

[bandit4god]

We've all heard this saying. It's the first time I've seen it on a portable sign in front of a church. It went up last week. I want to help stop crap like this:

Why?  That's my question.  Why do you want to help stop it?

Can Gawen or any other likeminded atheist present an exhaustive, well-reasoned argument that puts a value on "stopping crap like this" and defend why this relative value ranks higher than other pursuits (e.g., sensory pleasure)?

[Crow]

Hmm seems like they didn't read the bible - "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." and "If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned."

There are some truly sick, twisted, sadistic motherfuckers out there. Who wrote  that shit? You don't give a reference. Is it from the book of Moron?

Apologies sir that was from the regular bible, the first quote was John 3:18 and the second was John 15:6.

[Sandra Craft]

Well, at least they're right about that, even if they've chosen the wrong side of it.

Why?  That's my question.  Why do you want to help stop it?

Are you seriously asking why anyone would want to help stop the devaluation of reason?

[Sandra Craft]

And that's just from the Gospels.

And he's credited with saying a lot of stuff that was the opposite of that, too.  It occurs to me that if Jesus did exist and was one person (and not dozens of different people over many generations whose stories all got mushed together) a lot would be explained if he were bipolar.

[Heisenberg]

I mean, reason IS the greatest enemy faith has isn't it? I feel like that's an argument for our side...

[bandit4god]

Are you seriously asking why anyone would want to help stop the devaluation of reason?

That's exactly what I'm asking.  By what standard or set of norms does an atheist consider this valuable?  We're animals, isn't it all about pleasure?

[Tank]

Are you seriously asking why anyone would want to help stop the devaluation of reason?

That's exactly what I'm asking.  By what standard or set of norms does an atheist consider this valuable?  We're animals, isn't it all about pleasure?

This is so stupid I'm beginning to think you are just trolling the forum. 

[bandit4god]

This is so stupid I'm beginning to think you are just trolling the forum. 

Your response seems to imply that there is an absurdly obvious a priori value to helping stop devaluation of reason.  My question is why you believe that.  We're animals with between 0 and ~80 years here, so I'm interested in learning why stopping the devaluation of reason gets a "place at the table" in his agenda.

"To prevent the further pain caused by religious wars and bigotry"
Why?  What allegiance does one animal have to another?

"Because proving someone wrong activates the release of dopamine in my brain"
Gotcha, thanks!

"Because it helps me feel vindicated against the injustice of the thing?"
What is justice and why should other animals care?

I'm sure there are oodles of other reasons as well!!

[Sandra Craft]

Are you seriously asking why anyone would want to help stop the devaluation of reason?

That's exactly what I'm asking.  By what standard or set of norms does an atheist consider this valuable?  We're animals, isn't it all about pleasure?

I swear, just living in a bubble.

[Attila]

My question is why you believe that.  We're animals with between 0 and ~80 years here, so I'm interested in learning why stopping the devaluation of reason gets a "place at the table" in his agenda.

Why?  What allegiance does one animal have to another?

What is justice and why should other animals care?

I'm sure there are oodles of other reasons as well!!

Animals, animals, animals. Are your questions rhetorical? or are you truly ignorant? It would be nice of you to furnish a definition if "animal" so one can calculate what logically follows from the statment "we are animals". Is that equivalent to saying "there are large carbon molecules in our composition"? Question 2: are you a rationalist? Could you be wrong on this or any other point? If not I won't take the trouble of communicating with you. Being an animal I'm guessing you'll understand.

[Tank]

This is so stupid I'm beginning to think you are just trolling the forum. 

Your response seems to imply that there is an absurdly obvious a priori value to helping stop devaluation of reason.  My question is why you believe that.  We're animals with between 0 and ~80 years here, so I'm interested in learning why stopping the devaluation of reason gets a "place at the table" in his agenda.

"To prevent the further pain caused by religious wars and bigotry"
Why?  What allegiance does one animal have to another?

"Because proving someone wrong activates the release of dopamine in my brain"
Gotcha, thanks!

"Because it helps me feel vindicated against the injustice of the thing?"
What is justice and why should other animals care?

I'm sure there are oodles of other reasons as well!!

So you can't see the difference between a pig and a person?

[Gawen]

We've all heard this saying. It's the first time I've seen it on a portable sign in front of a church. It went up last week. I want to help stop crap like this:

Why?  That's my question.  Why do you want to help stop it?

Can Gawen or any other likeminded atheist present an exhaustive, well-reasoned argument that puts a value on "stopping crap like this" and defend why this relative value ranks higher than other pursuits (e.g., sensory pleasure)?

In another thread, perhaps. This one is about Jesus's teachings and their greatness, or lack of it.

[Gawen]

We've all heard this saying. It's the first time I've seen it on a portable sign in front of a church. It went up last week. I want to help stop crap like this:

Why?  That's my question.  Why do you want to help stop it?

Because people believe this:
http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=8400.msg128799#msg128799

If you would like to show us how Jesus's ethical and moral teachings are just that, please feel free. Since I've already covered the book of Matthew, you can start there (link above)

[bandit4god]

Because people believe this:
http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=8400.msg128799#msg128799

If you would like to show us how Jesus's ethical and moral teachings are just that, please feel free. Since I've already covered the book of Matthew, you can start there (link above)

Such an odd response to the question I asked, "Why do you consider it valuable?"  You're putting so much work into your colossal refutations, but have you ever stopped to ask yourself what value you ascribe to the activity and why?

[Gawen]

Because people believe this:
http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=8400.msg128799#msg128799

If you would like to show us how Jesus's ethical and moral teachings are just that, please feel free. Since I've already covered the book of Matthew, you can start there (link above)

Such an odd response to the question I asked, "Why do you consider it valuable?"  You're putting so much work into your colossal refutations, but have you ever stopped to ask yourself what value you ascribe to the activity and why?

Once again, you try to derail this thread with subject matter that does not pertain to the OP. Start another thread if you wish.